Michel's drawings are a bit primitive but certainly fully expressive of the horrors of Devil's Island. So completely sadistic and inhumane. Working outside in the blistering heat with only a straw hat, completely naked. Amazing that the escapee kept the drawings safely protected.
Thank you for sharing. Another reminder of the indomitable will to survive.
Thank you for featuring Robert Michel's drawings in Rene Belbenoit's life-saving memoir. Fascinating reading about Belbenoit's indomitable spirit after all his years in the penal colony. The power of art and word and in Belbenoit's long road to freedom and influence is amazing. The ArtReach link to SQ's incarcerated artists is also terrific! Art is soul's salvation is any setting.
Thanks for the comment, Jeffrey. The word I was initially going to use was awkward. But that's correct either. I like Michel's drawings.....and they are effective.
I actually have the book by Francis La Grange. I stumbled across it on vacation in Georgia and bought it just because we share the same surname. Haha. I have yet to read it but now I’m feeling inspired!
Michel's drawings are a bit primitive but certainly fully expressive of the horrors of Devil's Island. So completely sadistic and inhumane. Working outside in the blistering heat with only a straw hat, completely naked. Amazing that the escapee kept the drawings safely protected.
Thank you for sharing. Another reminder of the indomitable will to survive.
Thank you for featuring Robert Michel's drawings in Rene Belbenoit's life-saving memoir. Fascinating reading about Belbenoit's indomitable spirit after all his years in the penal colony. The power of art and word and in Belbenoit's long road to freedom and influence is amazing. The ArtReach link to SQ's incarcerated artists is also terrific! Art is soul's salvation is any setting.
Couldn't agree more. Thanks, Susan.
I believe that Alfred Dreyfus of the infamous “Dreyfus Affair” was imprisoned there for five years as well.
Thanks, Steve. It’s quite a story…. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreyfus_affair
I hate the description of these drawings as naive. They are amazing documents of injustice. Not to mention well drawn.
Thanks for the comment, Jeffrey. The word I was initially going to use was awkward. But that's correct either. I like Michel's drawings.....and they are effective.
I actually have the book by Francis La Grange. I stumbled across it on vacation in Georgia and bought it just because we share the same surname. Haha. I have yet to read it but now I’m feeling inspired!
I may write about LaGrange as well.